Christine Pelosi Attorney, author and Democratic activist :
The filibuster is good for America so long as it contains an actual debate. Three filibuster images collided on cable this week: TCM showing an actual debate in the fictional "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and CSPAN showing a manufactured debate in the real Washington as Republicans filibustered Defense combat operations even though they presumably support the troops and blocked the healthcare bill even after the first cloture vote showed the Democrats have 60 votes for passage. Viewers saw Jimmy Stewart
talking to exhaustion, Robert Byrd chanting "shame" to GOP Senators when voting on the defense bill, and Bernie Sanders fuming about being forced to have his single payer healthcare amendment pulled at the very same press conference where he touted a hold preventing a vote on a presidential appointee.
Clearly, political dysfunction is at a high water mark when fiction is more real then reality. If we keep the filibuster as a check on majorities railroading minorities, let's require actual debate. Let the people see and hear why GOP Senators want to block money to troops in the field or block a vote on ending discrimination against people with pre-existing medical conditions this week. Let senators of both parties talk to us about why the President should not be able to appoint judges and sub cabinet members. Have your say, talk it out, then take a vote.